College Prep English A/B

Online Course Design · Canvas LMS · Accessibility · Iterative Improvement

The Challenge

College Prep English needed to work as a fully online course for high school learners with different levels of independence, academic readiness, and support needs.

The course had to be clear enough for students to move through independently while still giving teachers the structure and resources they needed to support learners effectively.

Because the course would continue to be used over time, it also needed to be easy to maintain, update, and improve as instructional needs and technology changed.

My Role

I designed and developed the course in Canvas LMS and continued to maintain and improve it after launch.

My responsibilities included instructional design, course development, content organization, assessment design, accessibility remediation, LMS configuration, resource development, quality assurance, and ongoing course revision.

The Solution

I designed the course around a clear, consistent structure so learners could understand what they needed to do and move through the content with less confusion.

The course incorporated instructional content, assessments, learner supports, and resources within Canvas LMS. I also developed original instructional materials and graphics and used tools such as Cidi Labs and Canvas Studio to support course presentation and delivery.

As the course evolved, I updated content and technology, addressed accessibility issues, and revised learning materials based on feedback from students, teachers, and administrators.

Design Approach

Consistency and Usability
I used a predictable course structure so learners could focus on the content rather than figuring out how to navigate the course.

Accessibility
I reviewed and remediated course content to improve digital accessibility, including areas such as heading structure, captions and transcripts, visual contrast, and compatibility with accessibility tools.

Performance Support
When learners or instructors needed support outside the core lesson content, I created additional resources such as guides, graphic organizers, and quick-reference materials rather than adding unnecessary instruction to the course itself.

Iterative Improvement
The course was not treated as a finished product after launch. I used learner performance, pacing and completion patterns, stakeholder feedback, and technology changes to identify areas for revision.

Development & Maintenance

The course was developed and maintained in Canvas LMS, with Cidi Labs used to support page design and consistency and Canvas Studio used for multimedia content.

Course maintenance also included updating outdated resources, replacing or migrating embedded media when platforms changed, resolving accessibility issues, and reviewing the course for usability and instructional consistency.

Impact

The course served approximately 250 learners per year during its primary use.

It was later used as a model for course development at Raines Academy and was retained through a later district program transition when other courses were replaced.

That longevity is one of the outcomes I value most from the project: the course was not only usable at launch, but structured well enough to continue being used and maintained over time.

Tools & Methods

Canvas LMS · Cidi Labs · Canvas Studio · Accessibility Remediation · ADDIE · Backward Design · Assessment Design · Performance Support · Course QA · Stakeholder Feedback · Iterative Design

A note about access: This course was developed for a school district, so the full course content is not available for public sharing. I’ve included selected screenshots and examples to show the design, structure, and instructional approach behind the project.